Focus On Mexico - Your Guide to Moving and Retiring to Mexico's Lake Chapala

How Lakeside Celebrates Mexican Independence

September 16 is the official celebration of Mexican independence, a big holiday in Mexico similar to the 4th of July in the U.S. and Canada Day. The Grito de Dolores The "Grito de Dolores" is a historic event that happened on September 16, 1810, when the priest Miguel Hidalgo rang the bell of his church and issued a call to arms to fight Spanish occupation in the small Guanajuato province town of Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo). Each year the 'grito' is reenacted in villages and towns throughout Mexico, led by the 'grito' issued by the President of Mexico from the balcony of presidential … [Read more...]

Rainy Season at Lake Chapala

Here in Mexico we are in the midst of rainy season which runs from approximately June 15 to October 15 varying slightly from year to year, such as 2018 when it rained all the way through Day of the Dead in November, and 2017 when the rainy season was mostly over by September 30. This year, 2019, has seen serious flooding in many areas of Mexico and several severe hail storms including one in Guadalajara that left almost 4 feet of hail on the streets and made the international news. Lakeside Rainy Season The Lakeside rainy season is distinct due to the micro climate created by the surrounding … [Read more...]

What’s on the south side of Lake Chapala – Part II

We are fortunate to live on the shores of Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico whose shores include a variety of interesting towns on both sides of the lake. While the Chapala/Ajijic area is the most well-known, there are many expats living along other areas on the north shore where housing prices are generally more reasonable, and there is the fascinating south shore, where we just returned from our second visit to Sahuayo for the annual Festival de los Tlahualiles , one of the best mask festivals in Mexico. This fiesta is part of the town's annual patron saint festival which happens in … [Read more...]

Focus Guadalajara Highlights

We're excited to welcome our next group of FOCUS Fast Track Learning Seminar attendees on August 4. One of the highlights of the week is the Sunday trip to Guadalajara where we visit important historic locations and the fabulous artisan district of Tlaquepaque. We also visit the famous "Hospicio de las Cabañas" known as the Sistine Chapel of Mexico due to its famous murals painted by José Clemente Orozco, a contemporary of the well known Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. Click on the link to read the fascinating biography of José Clemente Orozco Biography.com that should be of interest to … [Read more...]

Is Mexico Dangerous?

While visiting family and friends in the U.S. when the topic of life in Mexico comes up I still constantly get asked the question, "But isn't it dangerous?" While it would be naive to say that there is no danger anywhere in Mexico, it is safe to say that anyone visiting or living in Mexico need only take the normal precautions that anyone would take living or traveling most places in the world. Late night partying and overindulging, for example, can be hazardous in any country, but for the most part, the streets of Mexico are perfectly safe even in the late night hours. At Lakeside, there … [Read more...]